Part 243

An"cho*ret`ish (&?;), a. Hermitlike.

An"cho*ret*ism (&?;), n. The practice or mode of life of an anchoret.

An"chor-hold` (&?;), n. 1. The hold or grip of an anchor, or that to which it holds.

2. Hence: Firm hold: security.

An"cho*rite (&?;), n. Same as Anchoret.

An"cho*ri`tess (&?;), n. An anchoress. [R.]

An"chor*less (&?;), a. Without an anchor or stay. Hence: Drifting; unsettled.

An*cho"vy (n*ch"v), n. [Sp. anchoa, anchova, or Pg. anchova, prob. of Iberian origin, and lit. a dried or pickled fish, fr. Bisc. antzua dry: cf. D. anchovis, F. anchois.] (Zoöl.) A small fish, about three inches in length, of the Herring family (Engraulis encrasicholus), caught in vast numbers in the Mediterranean, and pickled for exportation. The name is also applied to several allied species.

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An*cho"vy pear` (n*ch"v pâr`). (Bot.) A West Indian fruit like the mango in taste, sometimes pickled; also, the tree (Grias cauliflora) bearing this fruit.

An"chu*sin (&?;), n. [L. anchusa the plant alkanet, Gr. &?;.] (Chem.) A resinoid coloring matter obtained from alkanet root.

An"chy*lose (&?;), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Anchylosed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Anchylosing.] [Cf. F. ankyloser.] To affect or be affected with anchylosis; to unite or consolidate so as to make a stiff joint; to grow together into one. [Spelt also ankylose.] Owen.

||An`chy*lo"sis, An`ky*lo"sis (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, fr. &?; to crook, stiffen, fr. &?; crooked: cf. F. ankylose.] 1. (Med.) Stiffness or fixation of a joint; formation of a stiff joint. Dunglison.

2. (Anat.) The union of two or more separate bones to from a single bone; the close union of bones or other structures in various animals.

An`chy*lot"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to anchylosis.

An"cient (&?;), a. [OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus, fr. L. ante before. See Ante- , pref.] 1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; -- opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days.

Witness those ancient empires of the earth. Milton.

Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his namesake surnamed the Wise. Fuller.

2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. "Our ancient bickerings." Shak.

Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set. Prov. xxii. 28.

An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters. Scott.

3. Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent.

A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance. Barrow.

4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable. [Archaic]

He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then would he seem very grave and ancient. Holland.

5. Experienced; versed. [Obs.]

Though was the youngest brother, yet he was the most ancient in the business of the realm. Berners.

6. Former; sometime. [Obs.]